Clematis Plant Named &#39;Evipo041&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Clematis  plant with a compact growth habit, profuse, pink flowers, and continuous summer flowering. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for cultivation commercial nursery and glasshouse culture. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation from vegetative cuttings.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Genus: Clematis

Species: viticella

Variety Denomination: ‘Evipo041’

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Clematis plant which originated from a controlled crossing between the female seed parent, an un-named seedling, and the male pollen parent, an un-named seedling

The two parents were crossed during the summer of 1996 and the resulting seeds were planted the following winter in a controlled environment in Guernsey, Channel Islands. The new variety named ‘Evipo041’ originated as a single seedling from the stated cross.

The new clematis plant may be distinguished from its female seed parent mainly by growth habit. The new variety is more compact than the female seed parent.

The new clematis plant may be distinguished from its male pollen parent mainly by growh habit. The new variety is more compact than the male pollen parent.

The objective of the hybridization of this clematis plant was to create a new and distinct variety for glasshouse and nursery culture with unique qualities such as:

1. Uniform and abundant light pink flowers;

2. Vigorous and compact growth, making the variety suitable for small container culture; and

3. Improved disease resistance.

This combination of qualities was lacking in clematis plants that were in commercial cultivation and the qualities have been substantially achieved in the new variety.

‘Evipo041’ was selected by Mogens N. Olesen and Raymond J. Evison in their clematis development program in the Channel Islands, United Kingdom in 1997. Asexual reproduction of ‘Evipo041’ by means of vegetative cuttings and traditional layering was first performed by Mogens N. Olesen and Raymond J. Evison in the nursery during the summer of 1997. This initial and subsequent asexual propagations have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘Evipo041’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration show as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type:

FIG. 1. Open flower and reproductive parts;

FIG. 2. Open flowers with tepals detached;

FIG. 3. Open flower and flower bud with tepals detached; and

FIG. 4. Stems and leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of ‘Evipo041’, as observed in its growth throughout the flowering period in open air container production in Yamhill County Oregon. Observed plants were cultivated for a period of 24 months in 1 gallon containers. Certain phenotypical characteristics of the variety may vary under different environmental, cultural, agronomic, seasonal, and climatic conditions. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 2001, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the clematis variety ‘Evipo029’ described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,471 are compared to ‘Evipo041’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 ‘Evipo041’ ‘Evipo029’ Flower diameter 110 to 160 mm 70 to 90 mm Tepal color Upon and after opening, Upon opening: Upper the upper surface is surface is Violet Group Purple Group 76B with a 85B. After opening: central bar that is Purple Upper surface is Violet Group N79C. The Group 85C. blending of central bar Variations. --Lower and margins creates a surface about Violet zone of Purple Group Group 85C. and can 77B. The lower surface exhibit light green central is Purple Group 76C bar along each tepal with a central bar of length, the color of Yellow-Green Group Greyed Green Group 145C. Within the central 190A bar are 3 parallel veins the color of Purple Group N79C. Tepal count 6 6 to 8

-   Flower and flower bud:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous. The natural flowering period is             generally from May to September.         -   Flower bud.—Size: Normally 35 mm in length. Bud diameter is             12 mm. Bud form: Broad based elliptical. Bud color:             Yellow-Green Group 148C with intonations of Greyed-Purple             Group 184B.         -   Pedicel.—Surface Texture: Smooth. Length: 45 to 80 mm.             Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C with intonations of             Greyed-Purple Group 183B. Strength: Moderate.         -   Receptacle.—Surface Texture: Very pubescent. Shape: Broad             funnel. Size: 2 mm (h)×4 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group             144C with intonations of Greyed-Purple Group 183B.         -   Flower arrangement.—Location on vine: New and old growth.             Borne: Singly and in clusters of 2 to 3 flowers.         -   Flower bloom.—Size: Flowers are 110 to 160 mm in diameter             and 20 mm in depth. Profile: Open flowers are broad funnel             when viewed from the side. The upper portion is flat, lower             portion is convex. Fragrance: None. Lasting Quality: Flowers             normally remain 10 days on the plant. As a cut flower,             flowers normally last up to 3 days.         -   Tepals.—Tepal Color: Upon and after opening, the upper             surface is Purple Group 76B with a central bar that is             Purple Group N79C. The blending of central bar and margins             creates a zone of Purple Group 77B. The lower surface is             Purple Group 76C with a central bar of Yellow-Green Group             145C. Within the central bar are 3 parallel veins the color             of Purple Group N79C. Quantity: Normally 6 tepals. Size:             Young flowers are 55 mm in length by 35 mm wide. As flowers             reach full maturity the tepals are 75 mm in length by 45 mm             wide. Shape: Individual tepal shape is elliptic. The tepal             apex is acuminate. The tepal base is acute. Apex             Recurvature: Slightly curved. Tepal Cross section: Slightly             reflexed. Margins: Entire. Medium undulations of margin             observed. Persistence: Tepals persist.         -   Reproductive organs.—Arrangement: Somewhat compact. Pollen:             Quantity: Abundant. Color: White Group 155C. Anthers: Size:             5 mm in length. Color: Purple Group N77A. Quantity: 65 on             average. Filaments: Color: Yellow-Green Group 150D. Length:             6 mm. Pistils: Quantity: 65 on average. Stigmas: Superior in             location relative to the length of the filaments and the             height of the anthers. Styles: Color: Green Group 138D.             Length: 15 mm.         -   Seed head characteristics.—No seed observed. -   Plant:     -   -   Plant form.—Climbing.         -   Plant growth.—Moderately vigorous and compact.         -   Size.—Seasons growth attains 90 cm in height. Average spread             is 50 cm.         -   Hardiness.—Trials to date show the variety hardy in USDA             Zones 6.         -   Stems.—Color: Juvenile stems are generally Yellow Group             144A. Other intonations observed are Greyed-Purple Group             185A. Mature stems are Greyed-Orange Group N167B and 166B.             Internodes: 10 to 12 cm between nodes. Length: Normally 40             cm from the base of the plant to the flowering portion of             the stem. Diameter: 2.5 mm on average. Surface: Mature stems             are smooth with ribs parallel to the stem.         -   Plant foliage.—Leaf characteristics: Deciduous. Arrangement:             Trifoliate. Leaf Size: Compound leaves are normally 90 mm             (1)×75 mm (w). Terminal leaflets are normally 55 mm (1)×25             mm (w). Abundance: Generally, there are 2 leaves per 10 cm             of stem. Leaf Color: The upper surfaces of mature leaflets             are Yellow-Green Group 146 A while the lower surfaces are             Yellow-Green Group 147C. Upper surfaces of juvenile leaflets             are are Yellow-Green Group 144A while the lower surfaces are             Yellow-Green Group 144A. Stipules: Absent. Petioles: Size:             Normally 30 to 35 mm in length by 1 mm diameter. Texture:             Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of             Greyed-Red Group 178A. Petioloule: Size: Normally 50 mm in             length by 1 mm diameter. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Yellow-Green Group 144A with intonations of Greyed-Red Group             178A. Leaflet Shape: Generally elliptic. The base is             oblique. The apex is acute. Margin: Entire. Surface: The             upper side is smooth. The lower side is smooth. Thickness:             Moderate. Glossiness: Glossy.         -   Disease resistance.—Subject to any disease that normally             attacks the species. However the variety is more tolerant to             clematis wilt than some clematis. 

1. We claim a new and distinct variety of clematis plant named ‘Evipo041’, substantially as described and illustrated , due to its abundant pink flowers with good keepability, attractive foliage, compact growth, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, durable flowers and foliage, which make the variety suitable for distribution in the floral industry. 